The CeraPhi team made its pledge at a private closed doors event at the Ministry of Defense (MoD) alongside Mission Renewable, set up to harness the wealth of talent and skills from the veteran community for careers in renewable energy, and Aker Offshore Wind.
More than 20,000 people leave the armed forces in the UK every year, many with the skills, mindset and attitude the energy sector needs. An estimated 700,000 new green jobs will be created in the next decade.
Great Yarmouth-based CeraPhi Energy becomes that latest renewable energy business to vow to support armed forces leavers to move into green jobs, form communities in the sector, develop exemplars, mentors, and enable service veterans to help each other.
Karl Farrow, CeraPhi CEO, signed the covenant with Lieutenant General Richard Wardlaw OBE MSc BEng MInstRE, MoD’s Chief of Defence Logistics and Support, on behalf of the MoD.
Farrow said, “We are in a new era of reuse and sustainability. Reusing skills and disciplined ability is a key part of building a sustainable foundation and supporting transition. No one deserves more recognition that those men and women throughout the globe who served their countries, keeping us safe well and healthy in our daily lives.
“I have been in a fortunate position to have been able to offer many of these ex-service personal from various nationalities an ability to transition from service to Civvy Street and we continue to support these combined efforts and look forward to working with the MoD and the Mission Renewable cause as we ourselves transition.”
Mission Renewable is also working with the MoD to develop new supported pathways for service leavers, who can use MoD resettlement ‘credits’ to access funding for safety and technical qualifications needed to enter the renewable energy sector.
James Cameron, Mission Renewable CEO, said, “These are early days for the renewable sector, but what is clear is that ‘green’ careers will become a destination of choice for our service leavers and veterans.
“As our nation moves to meet the challenges in sustainability, the fast growth of the renewable energy sector will need men and women of quality to power it. Our Armed Forces community have much to offer, and by harnessing this national resource, industry too can benefit greatly.
“Companies like CeraPhi are keen to tap into that potential. From our work in other sectors, we’ve learnt a great deal about successful transition, and the power of advocacy, and it is now our responsibility to help promote these positive business behaviours in support of the renewable sector.”
PHOTO: CeraPhi Energy sign the Armed Forces Covenant with Mission Renewable at the Ministry of Defense. Chief Exective Officer, Karl Farrow, second left; Gary Williams, Chief Operating Officer, fifth from left, and Chris Sladen, advisory board member and chair of the Geothermal Energy Advancement Association.
